Footwear cinch
In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an instep strap would be used to increase tension on a cord that would substantially encircle a circumference of an ankle portion of a shoe. In the exemplary embodiment, a first end of the cord would be attached to an instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper; a second end of the cord would be attached to an instep portion of a second side of the shoe; and the cord would pass through at least one channel substantially disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe. In an alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, an instep strap would be used to increase tension on two cords. By tightening and fastening the instep strap, both cords would be somewhat distorted and a tension would be created, or increased, thereby causing a snug fit of the shoe.
Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/493,491, entitled “FOOTWEAR ANKLE CINCH”, filed on Aug. 8, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated for all purposes herein in full by reference as if stated in full herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe field of the present invention is shoes, and specifically shoes for sports.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn order to climb or maneuver rock or other formations, climbers, mountaineers and other sports enthusiasts sometimes engage the back of the heel of one of their shoes with a rock, ledge or other surface in order to climb. This maneuver is sometimes referred to in sports as “heeling.”
When walking, a walker may experience what is sometimes referred to in the shoe industry as “heel lift.” Heel lift is the slight slipping of the heel of a shoe away from the foot of the wearer. When walking, as the wearer's foot pivots from the heel of the foot to the ball of the foot, the wearer's shoe may slightly slip down on the heel of the wearer. When the wearer's heel next contacts the surface on which the wearer is walking, the heel of the shoe is urged back onto the foot. Heel lift causes blisters. Heel lift is often more prominent in stiff-soled shoes, such as hiking and climbing shoes. Some way is needed to better secure a shoe to a walker's foot to minimize heel lift.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an instep strap would be used to increase tension on a cord that would substantially encircle a circumference of an ankle portion of a shoe. In the exemplary embodiment, a first end of the cord would be attached to an instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper; a second end of the cord would be attached to an instep portion of a second side of the shoe; and the cord would pass through at least one channel substantially disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention would comprise a shoe with an exemplary ankle cinch. The exemplary shoe would comprise a plurality of channels disposed around a circumference of an ankle portion of the shoe; and a cord, attached at a first end to a first side of an instep of the shoe, said cord would be disposed through the plurality of channels, and said cord would be attached at a second end to an instep strap.
The exemplary shoe would comprise a shoe upper. The exemplary shoe upper would comprise an ankle portion and an instep. The instep of the exemplary shoe upper would comprise a first side that is opposite a second side. The exemplary shoe would further comprise at least one instep strap. The exemplary instep strap would comprise a first end and a second end, wherein said first end would be connected to the first side of the instep. The exemplary shoe would further comprise a plurality of channels disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe upper. In the exemplary embodiment, a cord comprising a first end, a second end, and a body, would be connected at its first end to the second side of the instep. The second end of the exemplary cord would be connected to the instep strap. The body of the cord would be disposed through said channels so that the cord substantially extends around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe upper. In the exemplary embodiment, the instep strap would pass under the cord on the second side of the instep. In the exemplary embodiment, a pulley would be disposed on the cord and the instep strap would pass under, and then over, the pulley.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention would provide an exemplary method of snugly cinching a shoe. The exemplary method would comprise attaching a first end of a cord to a first side of an instep of a shoe; stringing a second end of the cord through a plurality of channels disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe; and attaching the second end of the cord to an instep strap, wherein a first end of the instep strap is attached to a second side of the instep of the shoe. In the exemplary method, a second end of the instep strap would be threaded, first under, and then over, the cord. In the exemplary method, the second side of the instep would be opposite the first side of the instep.
In an alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, an instep strap would be used to increase tension on two cords: a first end of a first cord would be attached to an instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper; a second end of the first cord would be attached to a heel portion of the first side of the shoe; a first end of a second cord would be attached to an instep portion of a second side of the shoe upper; a second end of the second cord would be attached to a heel portion of the second side of the shoe; the first cord would pass through at least a first channel disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe; the second cord would pass through at least a second channel disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe; the instep strap would be attached to one of the cords, for example, the second cord, and would pass under, and then over, the other of the cords, for example, the first cord. By tightening and fastening the instep strap, both cords would be somewhat distorted and a tension would be created, or increased, thereby causing a snug fit of the shoe.
In the alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, a method of snugly cinching a shoe would be provided that would comprise: attaching a first end of a first cord to a first instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper of the shoe; threading a second end of the first cord through at least one channel, wherein said at least one channel is disposed around a circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe; attaching the second end of the first cord to a heel portion of the first side of the shoe upper of the shoe; attaching a first end of a second cord to an instep portion of a second side of a shoe upper of the shoe; attaching a second end of the second cord to a heel portion of the second side of the shoe upper of the shoe; and enclosing a portion of the second cord with a first end of a strap, wherein a second end of the strap is adapted for threading under a portion of the first cord.
In the alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, the shoe would comprise: at least one channel disposed around a circumference of an ankle portion of the shoe, wherein the channel is adapted for receiving a cord inserted therethrough; a first cord, said first cord comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said first cord is attached to an instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper of the shoe, and wherein the second end of the first cord is attached to a heel portion of the first side of the shoe upper of the shoe; a second cord, said second cord comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said second cord is attached to an instep portion of a second side of a shoe upper of the shoe, and wherein the second end of the second cord is attached to a heel portion of the second side of the shoe upper of the shoe; and an instep strap, said strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the strap is disposed to form a loop, said loop disposed to receive a portion of the second cord, and wherein the second end of the strap is adapted for threading under a portion of the first cord.
These and other features of the present invention are more fully set forth in the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is presented with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
With reference to
In the exemplary embodiment, the channels, or loops, 9 would be attached (such as by stitching), or would be integral (see
In the exemplary ankle cinch, the instep strap 7 would comprise a first end 7a, a second end 7b, and a body 7c. The first end 7a of the instep strap 7 would be attached to the shoe upper 6, such as by stitching, on one side, e.g., 13a, of the instep 13 of the shoe upper 6.
With reference to
The inner layer 7d of the second end 7b of the instep strap 7 would be adapted to be attached with the hook and loop properties of the hook and loop material to the inner layer 7d of the first end 7a of the instep strap 7.
With reference to
Returning with reference to
Lateral movement of the pulley 8 along the length of the cord 5 would be bounded on one side by the channel 9a, and on the other side by the attachment of the first end 5a of the cord 5 to the shoe upper 6, or alternatively by the second channel (not shown) attached to the shoe upper on the other side of the pulley 8. The restriction of lateral movement of the pulley 8 along the length of the cord 5 by the placement of the two channels on either side of the pulley 8, or alternatively, by the channel 9a and the attachment to the shoe upper, would urge the pulley 8 to be seated over the midsection 7f of the body 7c of the instep strap 7.
It will be understood by someone with ordinary skill in the art that benefits of the present invention could be enjoyed without the use of a pulley, e.g., pulley 8. The cord 5 could be directly exposed to the instep strap 7. Direct exposure of the hook and loop material of instep strap 7 to cord 5 could cause wear of either or both instep strap 7 and/or cord 5.
In the exemplary embodiment, the pulley 8 would be located on a side, e.g., 13b, of the shoe upper 6 that opposes the side, e.g., 13a, to which the first end 7a of the instep strap 7 would be attached.
In the exemplary embodiment, with reference to, e.g.,
In the exemplary embodiment, with reference to
Once the instep strap 7 is opened, such as is depicted in
It will be understood by someone with ordinary skill in the art that channels, such as channels 9′ depicted in
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
It will be understood by someone with ordinary skill in the art that benefits of the present invention could be enjoyed without the use of a pulley, e.g., pulleys 8-1 and/or 8-2. The cords 5-1 and/or 5-2 could be directly exposed to the instep strap 7′. Direct exposure of the hook and loop material of instep strap 7′ to cords 5-1 and/or 5-2 could cause wear of either or both instep strap 7′ and/or the respective cords 5-1 and/or 5-2.
With reference to
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
Once the instep strap 7′ has been snugly pulled, the end 7b′ of instep strap 7′ could be fastened to the hook and loop material 7d′-2 of instep strap 7′, thereby securing the snug fit of the cinched cords 5-1 and 5-2 respectively around the heel 2 and ankle portion 10 of the shoe 1′ around the wearer's foot.
In the further alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
As will be understood by someone with ordinary skill in the art, other features of the invention are depicted or are implicit in the accompanying figures and above-provided description.
FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION OF COPYRIGHT MATERIALA portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection by the copyright owner, Charles D. Cole, III, and/or his successors and assigns. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
TRADEMARKSVELCRO® is the registered trademark of Velcro Industries. The names of other actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSAlthough this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the embodiments of the invention described herein should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents rather than the foregoing description.
Claims
1. A shoe, said shoe comprising:
- a shoe upper having an ankle portion and an instep, said instep comprising an instep top, a first instep side and a second instep side, said first instep side opposite said second instep side;
- at least one instep strap, said instep strap comprising a strap body, a first strap end and a second strap end, wherein said first strap end is anchored to the shoe upper at the first side of the instep, said instep strap adapted for crossing over the instep top;
- a plurality of channels disposed around a portion of the ankle portion of the shoe upper;
- a cord comprising a first cord end, a second cord end, and a cord body, said first cord end connected to the second side of the instep, said cord body disposed through said plurality of channels so that the cord body substantially extends around at least a portion of the ankle portion of the shoe upper, said second cord end disposed through a particular channel of the plurality of channels that is disposed in proximity to the first side of the instep;
- wherein the second strap end is adapted for passing under a portion of the cord body in proximity to the second side of the instep, disposing a portion of the strap body for engagement with the portion of the cord body for cinching the cord body around at least a portion of the ankle portion, and disposing a portion of the strap body for attachment in proximity to the first strap end.
2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a pulley is disposed on the cord and wherein the instep strap passes under the pulley.
3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the strap body comprises a strap body layer that comprises a hook and loop material, and wherein the second strap end is adapted for passing under a portion of the cord body in proximity to the second side of the instep so that the strap body layer in proximity to the second strap end is disposed for attachment to the strap body layer in proximity to the first strap end.
4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said second cord end is connected to the instep strap.
5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the strap body comprises a strap body layer that comprises a hook and loop material, and wherein the second strap end is adapted for passing under a portion of the cord body in proximity to the second side of the instep so that the strap body layer in proximity to the second strap end is disposed for attachment to the strap body layer in proximity to the first strap end.
6. A method of snugly cinching a shoe, said method comprising:
- attaching a first end of a first cord to a first side of an instep of a shoe, wherein the first end of the first cord is attached to a first instep portion of the first side of a shoe upper of the shoe;
- threading a second end of the first cord through at least one channel, wherein said at least one channel is disposed around a circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe; and
- attaching the second end of the first cord to a heel portion of the first side of the shoe upper of the shoe.
7. The method of claim 6, said method further comprising:
- attaching a first end of a second cord to an instep portion of a second side of a shoe upper of the shoe; and
- attaching a second end of the second cord, to a heel portion of the second side of the shoe upper of the shoe.
8. The method of claim 7, said method further comprising:
- enclosing a portion of the second cord with a first end of a strap, wherein a second end of the strap is adapted for threading under a portion of the first cord.
9. A shoe, said shoe comprising:
- at least one channel disposed around a circumference of an ankle portion of the shoe, wherein the channel is adapted for receiving a cord inserted therethrough; and
- a first cord, said first cord comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said first cord is attached to a first side of the shoe, and wherein said first cord is disposed through the at least one channel, wherein said first end of said first cord is attached to an instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper of the shoe, and wherein the second end of the first cord is attached to a heel portion of the first side of the shoe upper of the shoe.
10. The shoe of claim 9, said shoe further comprising:
- a plurality of channels disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is adapted for receiving a cord inserted therethrough.
11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein said first end of said first cord is attached to a first instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper of the shoe, wherein the second end of the first cord is attached to second instep portion of a second side of the shoe upper of the shoe, and wherein the cord is disposed through the plurality of channels.
12. The shoe of claim 9, said shoe further comprising:
- a second cord, said second cord comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said second cord is attached to an instep portion of a second side of a shoe upper of the shoe, and wherein the second end of the second cord is attached to a heel portion of the second side of the shoe upper of the shoe.
13. The shoe of claim 12, said shoe further comprising:
- an instep strap, said instep strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the instep strap is disposed to form a loop, said loop disposed to receive a portion of the second cord, and wherein the second end of the instep strap is adapted for threading under a portion of the first cord.
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 6, 2004
Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
Inventor: Charles D. Cole, III (Redlands, CA)
Primary Examiner: Jila M Mohandesi
Attorney: Khorsandi Patent Law Group, A Law Corporation
Application Number: 10/913,985
International Classification: A43C 11/00 (20060101);